In 1902, Julian Francis Abele became the first African-American to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in architecture, and went on to design the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Widener Library at Harvard, and the campus plan for Duke University. Today, PennDesign honors Abele’s achievements by upholding the Penn Compact 2020, a university-wide initiative that prioritizes inclusion by increasing diversity and excellence at all levels. Among the School’s active student organizations is Diverse Design, which engages PennDesign, Penn and the Philadelphia communities to encourage new perspectives and combat persistent inequalities in the design professions.

Operating in the context of an urban research university that supports a culture of inquiry, PennDesign attracts scholars, researchers, artists, and practitioners eager to promote interdisciplinary thinking, expand the scope of art and design and increase their impact. PennDesign comprises programs in Architecture, City & Regional Planning, Energy Management, Fine Arts, Historic Preservation, Integrated Product Design, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Spatial Analytics, offering more than 20 degrees, dual degrees and certificates, including the new post-professional degree of Master of Science in Design with a concentration in Advanced Architectural Design.

From reigniting the link between ecology and urbanism, to exploring how generative design not only produces new forms of building but smarter behavior and better performance, PennDesign promotes thought leadership that informs public policy and engages both locally and globally to advance a sustainable future.

For more information about PennDesign, visit our website at www.design.upenn.edu. Applications for Fall 2016 admission are open now; the deadline for submitting applications is January 5. For more information about applying contact Joan Weston Director of Admissions at weston@design.upenn.edu, 215.898.6520 Phone